Securing devices for use in jewellery

ABSTRACT

A securing device for use in jewellery has a square sectioned bar bent to the shape of a C. The central part of the bar passes between two plates which are joined, which are of resilient material, and which are urged towards each other. There are a plurality of positions of the bar relative to the plates in which there is a relatively large resistance to rotation of the bar relative to the plates and in one of these positions, there are defined by the bar and the plates two passages each having a continuous wall.

United States Patent 1191 Szomanski Sept. 16, 1975 SECURING DEVICES FORUSE IN JEWELLERY [75] Inventor: Zbigniew Janusz Szomanski,

London, England [73] Assignee: Zem of Wales Limited, London,

England 22 Filed: Aug. 5, 1974 21 Appl.No.:494,524

[52] US. Cl 24/73 HR; 24/73 HH; 24/241 SP [51] Int. Cl. A44B 21/00; A44B13/00 [58] Field of Search 24/252 J, 252 B, 252 HC,

24/73 HR, 73 TA, 73 HH, 73 HL, 232, 241 S, 241 SP; 70/459; 59/89, 85

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,096 11/1895 Baker .1:24/232 1,398,126 11/1921 C0chrane.... 24/252 B 2,232,668 2/1941Schupbach.. 70/459 2,343,062 2/1944 Kennison 24/252 B 2,568,845 9/1951Carroll 24/232 3,267,694 8/1966 Ficocelli 24/252 J 3,484,909 12/1969Sau'er 24/252 J FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 277,827 12/1951Switzerland 24/252 I-IC Primary Examiner Bernard A. Gelak Attorney,Agent, or FirmMcCaleb, Lucas & Brugman [5 7] ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 2Drawing Figures SECURING DEVICES FOR USE IN JEWELLERY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to securingdevices for use in jewellery.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is commonto provide a securing devicefor'securing the two ends of, for example. a necklace together. A boltring is often used for this purpose and comprises a hollow ring to whichone end of the necklace is permanently fixed. A bolt ring is alsocommonly used to secure the ends of a bracelet. The hollow ring is notcomplete and the gap is bridged by a curved bolt which is urged out ofone end of the ring towards the other end of the ring by. a curvedhelical spring located within the hollow ring. A lug is secured to thebolt and to open the ring the lug is moved in the direction to cause thebolt to move into thesaid one end of the ring to reveal the gap in thering. In use, the wearer by manipulation of the lug moves the bolt intothe said one end of the ring and passes the said other end of the ringthrough a link at the end of the chain not secured to the ring. Thewearer then releases the lug and the bolt moves under the action of thespring to engage said other end of the ring and so complete the ring.Bolt rings do however have the disadvantage that moisture possibly fromthe wearer enters the bolt ring and attacks the spring which eventuallyfails. If the bolt rings fails while the necklace or bracelet is beingworn it may fall off the wearer and be lost. Various other securingdevices are known but all securing devices have certain disadvantagesincluding those mentioned above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention toprovide a securing device for use in jewellery.

According to this invention there is provided a securing device for usein jewellery comprising a bar of noncircular section held between twoplates at least one of which is of resilient material and is urgedtowards the other so that there are a plurality of positions of the barin relation to the plates in each of which there is a relatively largeresistance to rotation of the bar in relation to the plates because ofthe action of the plate or plates of resilient material, the bar and theplates being shaped to define a passage with a continuous wall in one ofthe said plurality of positions of the bar in relation to the plates.

Conveniently the bar is of rectangular section and it is preferred thatthe bar is of square section.

Preferably the bar is C-shaped and passes between the two plates in azone intermediate its ends so that in the said position of the bar inrelation to the plate there are defined two passages each having acontinuous wall.

Preferably the two plates are joined to each other in a location spacedfrom the location at which the bar passes between the two plates.

Preferably the two plates are parallel to each other in each of the saidlocations.

Preferably the bar is formed with a narrow section portion engaged bythe plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages will beapparent from the following description taken in connection with theDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A securing device inaccordance with this invention will now be described, by way ofexample'only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings a square section rod 1 is bent to a C-shapeand with a portion of slightly narrower section (not visible) in themiddle of the 'upright stroke 2 of the C. A central bar 3 comprising asingle plate of resilient material bent back on itself toeffectivelyprovide two plates 4 and 5 of resilient material is mounted on thenarrower section portion which is engaged by the plates 4 and 5 at theirfree ends. The plates 4 and 5 may be welded to each other for a shortdistance between their point of junction and their free ends. The plates4 and 5 are just narrower than the length of the narrow section portionso that they are trapped by the shoulders formed between that portionand the rest of the bar 1, The plate 4 is formed with an extension 6 atright angles which extension extends towards the plate 5 so as toentirely surround the narrower section portion of the bar 1. Because ofthe resilience of the plates 4 and 5 there are four relative positionsof the bar 1 and the bar 3 in each of which it is relatively difficultto rotate the bar 3 in relation to the bar 1. In one of these positionswhich is that shown in FIG. 2 the end of the bar 3 closes the gapbetween the ends of the bar 1 to form two passages 7 and 8 whose wallsare continuous. When the bar 3 is rotated from the position shown inFIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 1 the plates 4 and 5 are initially forcedslightly apart and be cause of the resilience of the plates 4 and 5 thebars 1 and 3 will remain in the relative position shown in FIG. 2 thereis a higher resistance to relative rotation of the bar 1. As the bar 3approaches the adjacent relative position in which it is relativelydifficult to rotate the bar 3 in relation to the bar 1, rotation of thebar towards that position which is shown in FIG. 1 becomes relativelyeasy. As indicated at 9 the bar 3 is cut away on opposite sides betweenthe part which surrounds the narrow section portion of the bar 1 and thepart which extends between the ends of the bar 1 in the closed positionof the securing device; this increases the size of the passages 7 and 8shown in FIG. 2.

The material of the bars 1 and 3 may be a hard gold which is relativelyresilient, German silver or brass or any other material which hasresilience and of course it is not essential that the bars 1 and 3 areof the same material.

In use when the device is in the position shown in FIG. 1 one end of thebar 1 is inserted into a link at one end of a necklace or bracelet andthe other end of the bar 1 is inserted into a link at the other end ofthe necklace or bracelet and then the bar 3 is rotated from the positionshown in FIG 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the ends of thenecklace are trapped.

It will be appreciated that there is no helical spring which can bedestroyed by corrosion.

The device shown in the drawings can also be used in a cufflink in whichcase a circular ring is secured to the back of each of two decorativeplates intended to be exposed. When the bar 3 is in its open positionone end of the bar 1 is inserted through one of the rings whereas theother end is inserted through the other ring and the bar 3 is rotated toits closed position. In this way one cufflink is provided and of coursea pair of such cufflinks will be normally provided.

While one form of the invention has been shown and described, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made within the spirit andscope of the in vention which should be limited only by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A securing device for use in jewellery comprising:

a body member including a C-shaped bar having a middle stroke portionand a pair of arcuate terminal portions with ends spaced apart to definean opening opposite said middle stroke portion;

a closure member including an elongated securement bar extendingtransversely from and pivotally connected to said middle stroke portionand having a free end portion swingable to and from a closed position insaid opening coplanar with said C-shaped bar to define in at least oneof said terminal portions a jewellery-engaging passage to which accessis controlled by said securement bar; and

said securement bar including two plates embracing said middle strokeportion at least one of which is of resilient material and urged againstthe surface of a non-circular section on the middle stroke portion ofsaid C-shaped bar when the securement bar is in closed position tothereby make said securement bar difficult to move from said closedposition.

2. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least the middlestroke portion of the C-shaped bar is of rectangular section.

3. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least the middlestroke portion of the C-shaped bar is of square section.

4. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two plates arejoined to each other at said free end portion.

5. A securing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the two plates areparallel to each other in each of the said locations.

6. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securement bar isformed with a narrow section portion providing an enlargement for saidjewelleryengagmg passage.

7. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein both plates are ofresilient material.

1. A securing device for use in jewellery comprising: a body memberincluding a C-shaped bar having a middle stroke portion and a pair ofarcuate terminal portions with ends spaced apart to define an openingopposite said middle stroke portion; a closure member including anelongated securement bar extending transversely from and pivotallyconnected to said middle stroke portion and having a free end portionswingable to and from a closed position in said opening coplanar withsaid C-shaped bar to define in at least one of said terminal portions ajewellery-engaging passage to which access is controlled by saidsecurement bar; and said securement bar including two plates embracingsaid middle stroke portion at least one of which is of resilientmaterial and urged against the surface of a non-circular section on themiddle stroke portion of said C-shaped bar when the securement bar is inclosed position to thereby make said securement bar difficult to movefrom said closed position.
 2. A securing device as claimed in claim 1wherein at least the middle stroke portion of the C-shaped bar is ofrectangular section.
 3. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 whereinat least the middle stroke portion of the C-shaped bar is of squaresection.
 4. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the twoplates are joined to each other at said free end portion.
 5. A securingdevice as claimed in claim 4 wherein the two plates are parallel to eachother in each of the said locations.
 6. A securing device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the securement bar is formed with a narrow sectionportion providing an enlargement for said jewellery-engaging passage. 7.A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein both plates are ofresilient material.